Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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INTEGRATED GLASS RUN AND UPPER REVEAL WITH FILM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[00011 The invention relates to a reveal molding for a motor vehicle door.
More particularly, the invention relates to a reveal molding that integrates a
glass run
with an upper reveal.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] A glass run and an upper reveal are conventionally molded as separate
components that are subsequently joined when attached to a motor vehicle door.
Motor vehicle doors typically include a door frame having a metal header with
an
outwardly extending flange. The upper reveal is secured along the flange and
includes a reveal trim that is visible along an exterior of the vehicle door.
The
separate glass run is then fixedly secured to the upper reveal for receiving a
window
pane in a closed position.
[0003] Generally, it is difficult to manufacture the separate upper reveal as
it
tends to fail when stretch bending and it requires expensive retooling during
attachment to the vehicle door. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a
single,
integrated reveal molding that includes a glass run and an upper reveal that
are
integrally connected to form a single unitary molding. Accordingly, the single
molding substantially reduces retooling cost, eliminates the need for stretch
bending,
and reduces the number of parts and the weight of the molding.
SUMMARY OF TIIE INVENTION
[0004] According to one aspect of the invention, an integrated reveal molding
is provided for a motor vehicle door frame having a header section and
defining a
window opening for receiving a window pane. The integrated reveal molding
includes a glass run having a window receiving portion adapted for receiving
the
window pane. The window receiving portion includes a connecting body and
spaced
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apart first and second legs extending out from the connecting body to define a
window receiving channel for receiving the window pane. The integrated reveal
molding also includes an upper reveal having an outboard segment adapted to be
secured to the door frame. The outboard segment extends between an upper end
and
an opposite lower end that is fixedly connected to the second leg of the
window
receiving portion to define a retention channel for securely receiving the
door frame.
The outboard segment further includes a reveal surface disposed along the
outboard
segment with a reveal secured to the reveal surface to provide an
aesthetically
appealing appearance. The upper reveal and a portion of the second leg of the
window receiving portion are formed from TPV having a durometer of
approximately
40D.
[0005] According to another aspect of the invention, an integrated reveal
molding includes a main body portion with an upper segment, a lower segment,
and a
connecting member extending between the upper and lower segments to define a
horizontal channel adapted to receive the header section. Spaced apart first
and
second legs are secured to and extend out from the lower segment to define a
generally vertical channel for receiving the window pane. A reveal surface
extends
along the connecting member and one of the first and second legs. A reveal is
secured to the reveal surface to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better
understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered
in
connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0007] Figure 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle front door and rear door,
partially cut away, including an integrated reveal molding extending along a
header
section;
[0008] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along Lines 2-2 in Figure 1 of
the integrated reveal molding mounted to the header section;
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[00091 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the
integrated reveal molding mounted to the header section;
[00101 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the
integrated reveal molding mounted to the header section; and
[0011] Figure 5 is a side view of a motor vehicle front door and rear door,
partially cut away, including a fourth embodiment of the integrated reveal
molding
extending along a header section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
10012] Referring to Figure 1, a motor vehicle door is generally shown at 10.
In Figure 1, the door 10 is a front door and a rear door. The following
description
addresses the front door with the understanding that the same applies equally
to the
rear door. The front door 10 includes a door frame 11 having a header section
12.
The header section 12 includes a flange 13 extending out therefrom, as shown
in
Figure 2. The door frame 11 defines a window opening 16. A retractable window
pane 18 selectively closes a portion of the window opening 16. A glass run
member
14 is positioned along a division post and a B-pillar for receiving the
retractable
window pane 18.
[00131 An integrated reveal molding, generally shown at 20, is an elongated
molding that extends longitudinally along the length of the header section 12
between
a first terminating end 17 and a second terminating end 19. The integrated
reveal
molding 20 may be curved to match the contour of the header section 12.
[0014] Referring to Figure 2, the integrated reveal molding 20 includes a
glass
run 22 having a window receiving portion, generally indicated at 24, for
receiving the
retractable window pane 18 therein. The window receiving portion 24 includes
spaced apart first 28 and second 30 legs extending out from a connecting body
26 to
define a window receiving channel 32.
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[0015] Each of the first 28 and second 30 legs extends between a connecting
end 34 and a free end 36. Each free end 36 includes a flexible lip 40 secured
thereto.
Each of the flexible lips 40 sealingly engages the retractable window pane 18.
The
connecting body 26 includes an upper surface 27 and a lower surface 29. An
additional flexible lip 40 is secured to the lower surface 29 and projects
into the
window receiving channel 32.
[0016] Each connecting end 34 of the first 28 and second 30 legs and each
free end 36 of the first 28 and second 30 legs include a respective projection
38 that
engages and abuts the header section 12 to provide locking engagement
therewith.
The first leg 28 and the connecting body 26 define a hinge 42 therebetween to
provide
flexible movement of the first leg 28 relative to the connecting body 26. The
second
leg 30 and the connecting body 26 also define a hinge 42 therebetween to
provide
flexible movement of the second leg 30 relative to the connecting body 26.
[0017] The glass run members 14 positioned along the division post and the
B-pillar, as shown in Figure 1, have similar characteristics as the window
receiving
portion 24 of the glass run 22 described above. The glass run members 14 along
the
division post and the B-pillar are molded to the integrated reveal molding 20
to
further restrict the movement of the retractable window pane 18 received
therein and
guide the retractable window pane 18 in the proper orientation during vertical
movement.
[0018] The integrated reveal molding 20 also includes an upper reveal,
generally indicated at 44, adjacent the glass run 22 and oriented in a
direction
generally opposite the window receiving portion 24 of the glass run 22. The
upper
reveal 44 includes an outboard segment 46 extending between an upper end 48
and an
opposite lower end 50. The lower end 50 is fixedly secured to the second leg
30 of
the window receiving portion 24. The outboard segment 46 and the second leg 30
define a retention channel 52 therebetween. The upper reveal 44 is attached to
the
flange 13 of the header section 12 by mounting the outboard segment 46 and
second
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leg 30 around the flange 13 such that the flange 13 is fixedly secured within
the
retention channel 52. The upper reveal 44 may be fixedly mounted along the
flange
13 by any of numerous known materials and methods, including, but not limited
to,
adhesive or tape.
[0019] The integrated reveal molding 20 is formed as an extruded member
from thermoplastic vulcanisate (TPV) of different durometer values to meet
varying
flexibility and durability requirements. More specifically, the upper reveal
44 has a
durometer of approximately 40 D. The second leg 30 of the window receiving
portion 24 further includes a top portion 35 and a bottom portion 37. The
bottom
portion 37 is formed from TPV having a durometer of approximately 40D. It is,
however, appreciated that the durometer for the upper reveal 44 and the
durometer for
the bottom portion 37 may vary. The top portion 35 of the second leg 30, the
connecting body 26, and the first leg 28 of the window receiving portion 24
are each
generally formed from TPV having a durometer of less than approximately 40D.
It is
also appreciated that the durometers for the top portion 35 of the second leg
30, the
connecting body 26, and first leg 28 of the window receiving portion 24 may
vary.
[0020] The integrated reveal molding 20 includes a reveal surface 54
extending along the outboard segment 46 of the upper reveal 44. A reveal 56 is
coupled to the reveal surface 54 to provide the integrated reveal molding 20
with an
aesthetically pleasing, finished exterior. The reveal 56 may be formed from
any of
numerous materials including, but not limited to, glossy chrome film and
glossy black
film. Because the upper reveal 44 is formed from TPV with a durometer of
approximately 40 D, the upper reveal 44 provides a hard surface that allows
the reveal
56 to be applied to the reveal surface 54 without wrinkling or other similar
irregularities.
[0021] Referring to Figure 3, wherein like primed reference numerals
represent similar elements as discussed above, the integrated reveal molding
20' in a
second embodiment includes a metal carrier 49 embedded within the upper reveal
44'
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and the second leg 30' of the glass run 22'. The metal carrier 49 has a
generally U-
shaped cross-section to provide additional support to the upper reveal 44'.
[0022] Referring to Figure 4, wherein like double-primed reference numerals
represent similar elements as those discussed above, an alternative embodiment
of the
integrated reveal molding 20" includes a main body portion, generally shown at
62,
having an upper segment 64, a lower segment 66, and a connecting member 68
extending therebetween. The upper segment 64, the lower segment 66, and the
connecting member 68 define a generally horizontal channel 70 that is adapted
to
receive the flange 13" of the header section 12". The upper segment 64
includes an
upper surface 72 and a lower surface 74. The upper surface 72 has at least one
flexible lip 76 secured thereto and projecting therefrom to engage the header
section
12". The lower surface 74 also has at least one flexible lip 76 secured
thereto and
projecting into the horizontal channel 70 to engage the flange 13".
[0023] A sealing member 77 is partially disposed within the generally
horizontal channel 70 of the main body portion 62 and contacts the upper
segment 64
and the header section 12" for providing a continuous seal therebetween. The
main
body portion 62 further includes a metal carrier 78 embedded within the main
body
portion 62 to provide additional support thereto. The metal carrier 78 in the
current
embodiment has a generally U-shaped cross section.
[0024] The integrated reveal molding 20" also includes spaced apart first 80
and second 82 legs secured to the lower segment 66 of the main body portion 62
and
extending therefrom to define a generally vertical channel 84 for receiving
the
retractable window pane 18". The first leg 80 includes projections 81 that
engage
and abut the header section 12" to provide locking engagement therewith. The
first
80 and second 82 legs each includes a flexible lip 76 projecting into the
generally
vertical channel 84 for sealing engagement with the retractable window pane
18".
The lower segment 66 of the main body portion 62 includes the flexible lip 76
secured
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thereto and projecting into the generally vertical channel 84 for sealing
engagement
with the retractable window pane 18".
[00251 A reveal surface 86 extends along the connecting member 68 of the
main body portion 62 and one of the first 80 and second legs 82. A reveal 88
is
secured to the reveal surface 86 to provide the integrated reveal molding 20"
with an
aesthetically pleasing appearance. The reveal 88 may be formed from any of
numerous materials including, but not limited to, glossy chrome film and
glossy black
film. The integrated reveal molding 20" is formed as an extruded member from
TPV
of different durometer values to meet varying flexibility and durability
requirements.
[0026] Referring to Figure 5, wherein like triple-primed reference numerals
represent similar elements as those discussed above, a fourth embodiment of
the
integrated reveal molding 20"' extends longitudinally along the length of the
header
section 12"' and has a width W1 at the first terminating end 17"' and a width
W2 at
the second terminating end 19"'. As the integrated reveal molding 20"' extends
longitudinally along the length of the header section 12"', the integrated
reveal
molding 20"' varies in such a way that the width W2 at the second terminating
end
19"' is greater than the width W I at the first terminating end 17"'. It is
contemplated
that the width WI at the first terminating end 17"' could be greater than the
width W2
at the second terminating end 19"'. It is further contemplated that a width
(not
shown) between the first 17"' and second 19"' terminating ends could be
greater
than the widths W1 and W2 without exceeding the scope of the invention.
[00271 The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be
understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the
nature
of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and
variations
of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore,
within the
scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as
specifically described.
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